Combined equipment of electrode holder segments and fastening means for use with a closed electric smelting furnace

ABSTRACT

A plurally segmented electrode holder, the horizontal width of the lower half part being about one half the upper part one, and each of which has two caved adjoining parts in both sides thereof, is fitted with a pressure resistive cylinder, whose outside diameter, inside diameter and height are substantially the same as the upper part outside diameter, the lower part outside diameter and the height of the lower half part of the electrode holder respectively, so as to be received in a surrounding outside space defined by the lower parts. Plural pieces of tapered cotter are inserted between the coincident sides of caved adjoining lower parts of the electrode holder segments, which have tapers corresponding to those of the cotters, and the inside of the cylinder so as to cause the holder segments to be in press-contact with the electrode by pulling up the cotters. This equpment fixed to the electrode moves up and down through a furnace lid hole equipped with a packing ring case at the periphery thereof.

United States Patent 1 111 3,717,714 Tisaki [451 Feb. 20, 1973 COMBINED EQUIPMENT OF Primary Examiner-Roy N. Envall, Jr.

ELECTRODE HOLDER SEGMENTS AND FASTENING MEANS FOR USE WITH A CLOSED ELECTRIC SMELTING FURNACE [75 Inventor: Tatu Tisaki, Tokyo, Japan [73] Assignee: Tanabe Kakoki Co., Ltd., Niigataken, Japan [22] Filed: Aug. 30, 1971 [21] App]. No.: 176,193

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 7, 1970 Japan ..45/88548 [52] US. Cl. ..l3/l5 [51] Int. Cl. ..H05b 7/10 [58] Field of Search ..l3/l4,15,l6,17

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,911,455 11/1959 Olsson et al ..13/l6 Attorney-Kemon, Palmer & Estabrook [57] ABSTRACT A plurally segmented electrode holder, the horizontal width of the lower half part being about one half the upper part one, and each of which has two caved adjoining parts in both sides thereof, is fitted with a pressure resistive cylinder, whose outside diameter, inside diameter and height are substantially the same as the.

This equpment fixed to the electrode moves up and down through a furnace lid hole equipped with a packing ring case at the periphery thereof.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED P50201975;

( PRIOR ART) INVENTOR. 7 5mm FIG. 1v

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a combined equipment of electrode holder segments and a fastening means, and more particularly to such device for use with a closed electric smelting furnace.

In the electric smelting furnace of open or closed type, a plurally segments electroconductive electrode holder is press-contacted with a furnace electrode. All these segments are of jacket type so as to cause cooling water to be circulated therethrough, and connected with electric conductors connected to power supply.

A typical example of the device for press-contacting electrode holder segments with an electrode is described in the specification of Japanese Pat. No. 41 1,490. According to that specification and annexed drawing (as shown in FIG. I of the present drawing), each of the holder segments which surround or hold the electrode has an outwardly extending projection having a vertically inclined flat surface. Said vertically inclined surface of the electrode holder segment is pressengageable in face to face relationship with an oppositely inclined surface formed on a cotter ring, so that when the cotter ring is moved upwardly the segments are individually and simultaneously brought into press-contact with the electrode thereby to positively carry the latter. The segments-cotter ring assembly which holds the electrode is air-tightly placed in a protecting cylinder, which is secured adjustably to a lid of the electrode.

The device of the above-mentioned arrangement simply and easily attains its object. Such a known device, however, has the drawback that the diameter of the lid is unavoidably increased because of the provision of the bulky protecting cylinder, with the result that only a limited space available is left on the lid causing difficulties in the provisions of a gas outlet pipe and chutes for feeding raw material as well as in repairing the furnace. The more detailed construction of the prior art device will be described later in connection with FIG. 1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to eliminate protective cylinders from the lid of closed electric smelting furnace in order to enlarge a working space on the lid.

Another object of this invention is to adjust the press-contact strength of separate holder segments by a simple mechanism.

These objects may be attained in accordance with the present invention by using a combined equipment of a plurally segmented water-cooled electrode holder, the horizontal width of the lower half part thereof being about one half that of the upper part one, fitted with a water-cooled pressure resistive cylinder, whose outside diameter, inside diameter and height are substantially the same as the upper part outside diameter, the lower part outside diameter and the height of the lower half part of the electrode holder segment respectively, so as to be received in a surrounding outside space defined by the lower half part thereof; and plural pieces of a tapered cotter inserted between the coincident sides of caved adjoining lower parts of the holder segments, which have a taper corresponding to those of cotters respectively, and the inside of the above-mentioned cylinder so as to cause the holder to be in press-contact with the electrode by pulling up said cotters.

This invention will be better understood by perusal of the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a known equipment (Japanese Pat. No. 411,490, published on- Aug. 22, 1962);

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of an improved equipment in accordance with the present invention taken along the line A-A in FIG. 4;

FIG. 3 is a similar view taken along the line B--B in F IG. 4; and

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional plan view, of the device embodying this invention taken along the line C-C in FIGS. 2 and 3, without a furnace lid removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION pulling means 27 and packing supportors 32 for asbestos packing rings 30 are fixed to the upper surface of the cotter ring 26.

A protective cylinder 24 having a water-cooling jacket is fitted to a hole formed in a water-cooled furnace lid 28 reinforced by water-cooled beams 28a with the aid of a ring plate 25 welded thereto. A bolt and nuts 29 are fitted to the ring plate 25, and a stand is connected to the bolt and nuts 29. The lower end 240 of the protective cylinder 24 is narrow at the mouth thereof, and the level of said cylinder is adjusted by controlling the bolt and nuts 29.

The combined equipment of electrode holder assembly and cotter ring is inserted through the protective cylinder 24, and is moved up and down along the inner wall of the protective cylinder 24. The gas generated in a reaction zone in the furnace does not leak from the lid hole by means of the asbestos packing rings 30.

When the cotter ring 26 is strongly pulled up, all segments 22 of the electrode holder are press-contacted with the surface of electrode 21 by the taper action between said segments and the cotter ring.

According to this invention, the use of a bulky protective cylinder is not necessary. For this purpose, the combination of the electrode holder segments 22, cotter ring 26 and protective cylinder 24 in FIG. 1 is replaced by the improved electrode holder segments 2 each having partially concave inner side. parts with an outer tapered flat surface, a pressure resistive cylinder 4 and several pieces of tapered cotter 6 as shown in FIGS. and 4.

Each segment 2 is reduced at its lower half so that width of the lower half part of the segmented electrode holder 2 surrounding an electrode 1 is about one half the upper part width thereof. Each segment has a water-cooling jacket 2a, a pair of electroconductive water-cooling pipes 3 inter-communicating with said jacket 2a and a segment hanger l l. The outside diameter, the inside diameter and the height of pressure resistive cylinder 4 having a water-cooling jacket 4a are substantially the same as the upper part outside diameter, the lower part outside diameter and the height of the lower half part of the electrode holder segment 2 respectively, so that the outersurface of the pressure resistive cylinder 4 is substantially contiguous to that of the upper half of the segment. Said pressure resistive cylinder 4 is received in an open space defined by the lower half parts of electrode holder segments, and supported to the segment by means of several threaded pins 5.

Several pieces of tapered cotter 6 are inserted between the inner wall of the cylinder 4 and the outersurfaces of the concaved adjoininglower parts of the segments, each said lower parts having a taper corresponding to that of the cotters 6. A suspending rod 7 is fixed to each of the cotters 6 to adjust their vertical movements.

When the cotters 6 are pulled up by the suspending rods 7, the segments 2 are to be press-contacted to the surface of'the electrode 1 by the taper action force derived from the pulling force with the result that very intimate contact for supporting and positive electrical conduction can be obtained simply and easily. in the case of FIG. 1, thecross-sectional figure of the electrode '1 must always be substantially a perfect circle, but in the present case there is no trouble even if said figure is transformed to some extent. That is, as the cotters 6 are not one body like the cotter ring 26 in FIG. 1 but are separated in several pieces, it is possible to adjust partially the degree of presscontact by separately controlling each cotter piece 6.

Three electrode holes 9 are formed in a furnace lid 8 which is reinforced by water-cooled beam 8a and backed on its inside surface with a heat resistive material 13. At the periphery of each electrode hole 9 is fixed a packing case 12 which holds asbestos packing rings 10. The aforementioned combination of the electrode holder segments 2, pressure resistive cylinder 4 and cotter pieces 6, which is press-contacted with the electrode l, is inserted through the electrode hole 9 with the aid of packing rings 10, and caused to move up and down through the hole 9 together with the electrode 1 in order to control the furnace operation. I

The height of the packing means which in contact with the outside surface of the combined equipment is so sufiiciently large that it is not necessary to fit such a movable protecting cylinder 14 such as shown in FIG. 1 to the periphery of the electrode hole. As the lever control of said protecting cylinder 24 is very troublesome, and the weight thereof is very heavy, the elimination of the protecting cylinder invites efficient operation and economization. Furthermore, said elimination permits substantial enlargement of utilizable lid surface, so that various equipment such as chutes for raw materials charging and a gas outlet pipe can be easily fixed to the lid with space to spare, and maintenance can be easily performed in the spacious area.

What is claimed is:

l. A combined electrode holder and fastening means for use with a closed electric smelting furnace comprismg:

a plurally segmented annular water-cooled electrode holder for surrounding an electrode, the horizontal cross sectional width of the lower half part thereof being about one-half that of the upper part, the adjoining portions of the lower half of each segment having an identical flat tapered surface;

a water-cooled pressure resistive cylinder whose outside diameter, inside diameter and height are substantially the same as the upper part outside diameter, the lower part outside diameter and the height of the lower half of said electrode holder respectively, fitted to said electrode holder so as to be received in the space surrounding the outside of the lower half of said electrode holder; and a plurality of tapered cotters one positioned between each pair of adjacent flat tapered surfaces of said cylinder, the taper of said cotters mating with the tapered portion of said segments, whereby said segments are urged into press contact with the electrode by vertical movement of said cotters;

whereby the combined structure may be inserted through a furnace lid hole equipped with a packing ring case at the periphery thereof.

2. The combination defined by claim 1 in which said pressure resistive cylinder is supported on said electrode holder by means of a plurality of threaded pins screwed to the segments of said holder. 

1. A combined electrode holder and fastening means for use with a closed electric smelting furnace comprising: a plurally segmented annular water-cooled electrode holder for surrounding an electrode, the horizontal cross sectional width of the lower half part thereof being about one-half that of the upper part, the adjoining portions of the lower half of each segment having an identical flat tapered surface; a water-cooled pressure resistive cylinder whose outside diameter, inside diameter and height are substantially the same as the upper part outside diameter, the lower part outside diameter and the height of the lower half of said electrode holder respectively, fitted to said electrode holder so as to be receIved in the space surrounding the outside of the lower half of said electrode holder; and a plurality of tapered cotters one positioned between each pair of adjacent flat tapered surfaces of said cylinder, the taper of said cotters mating with the tapered portion of said segments, whereby said segments are urged into press contact with the electrode by vertical movement of said cotters; whereby the combined structure may be inserted through a furnace lid hole equipped with a packing ring case at the periphery thereof.
 1. A combined electrode holder and fastening means for use with a closed electric smelting furnace comprising: a plurally segmented annular water-cooled electrode holder for surrounding an electrode, the horizontal cross sectional width of the lower half part thereof being about one-half that of the upper part, the adjoining portions of the lower half of each segment having an identical flat tapered surface; a water-cooled pressure resistive cylinder whose outside diameter, inside diameter and height are substantially the same as the upper part outside diameter, the lower part outside diameter and the height of the lower half of said electrode holder respectively, fitted to said electrode holder so as to be receIved in the space surrounding the outside of the lower half of said electrode holder; and a plurality of tapered cotters one positioned between each pair of adjacent flat tapered surfaces of said cylinder, the taper of said cotters mating with the tapered portion of said segments, whereby said segments are urged into press contact with the electrode by vertical movement of said cotters; whereby the combined structure may be inserted through a furnace lid hole equipped with a packing ring case at the periphery thereof. 